Prince Louis’s birthday sparks ‘sadness’ for Kate and William – ‘end of an era’

The couple’s youngest child celebrates his eighth birthday today.

Prince Louis pictured with his mum Princess Catherine in December 2025Prince Louis pictured with his mum Princess Catherine in December 2025 (Image: GETTY)

Prince Louis is celebrating his eighth birthday, with details of how the family will mark his special day kept private. The Prince and Princess of Wales’s youngest child joined the family, a little brother for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, on this day in 2018.

The couple marked their son’s birthday today with the release of a newly-released picture of the grinning youngster. The royal can be seen beaming at the camera, dressed in blue with his arms crossed.

The picture was taken by Cornwall by Matt Porteous earlier this month.

Speaking about the significance of today, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond reveals that the day will likely come with a “tinge of sadness” for Prince William and Princess Catherine as their youngest child is growing up.

She told the Mirror: “A tinge of sadness? Yes, it’s inevitable as your ‘baby’ shoots up and grows out of all his clothes, exerts his will and shows his independence, most parents get a touch whimsical about the end of an era: the family is growing up.

“The baby stage has gone once and for all.”

Louis, who has been known to delight fans with his cheeky antics during royal engagements, is gradually appearing to grow out of this stage and slowly becoming more aware of his public persona.

Prince LouisPrince Louis in his birthday picture shared today (Image: Matt Porteous)

Ms Bond added: “It was obvious at Easter when we saw the whole family at Windsor that George isn’t the only one who is getting taller. The cheeky little boy in shorts was now a very well-behaved young Prince Louis in a suit and tie. There were no mischievous antics, no tongue poking out at the cameras – in fact Louis hardly looked in the direction of the crowds.

“I don’t think his parents will have consciously subdued his cheeky side, but Louis is probably now more aware that he is on public parade. And that could be embarrassing at his age. So it was left to Charlotte to give a friendly little wave in the direction of the crowds and cameras.”

The last time that Louis and his siblings – 12-year-old Prince George and 10-year-old Princess Charlotte – were seen by the public was during the Easter Sunday service earlier this month.